The San Francisco Giants (2-2) and Los Angeles Dodgers (4-2) open a 3-Game NL West rivalry set Monday night. First pitch at Dodger Stadium is slated for 10:10 p.m. ET (MLB Network). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Giants vs. Dodgers odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.
Season series: First meeting; Los Angeles won last year’s series 7-6
San Francisco took 2 of 4 games in a season-opening series at the San Diego Padres. Giants pitching was touched up for a 6.35 ERA in the 4 games.
The Dodgers remain at home after taking 3 of 4 games against the St. Louis Cardinals. L.A. pitching filed a 2.68 ERA and 10.8 strikeouts per 9 IP in the quartet of games in Chavez Ravine.
Giants at Dodgers projected starters
RHP Keaton Winn vs. LHP James Paxton
Winn makes his season debut. In his rookie 2023 campaign, he went 1-3 with a 4.68 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 1.7 BB/9 and 7.4 K/9 in 42 1.3 IP.
- Did not make his Cactus League debut until March 17 after experiencing elbow soreness in late-February.
- Will likely be on a relatively limited pitch count (threw 42 pitches in his 2nd of just 2 spring-training outings)
- Career vs. Dodgers: 0-1, 10.13 ERA (5 1/3 IP, 6 ER), 6 H, 0 BB, 5 K in 1 start
Paxton is making his season debut. Pitching 19 games for the Boston Red Sox in 2023, the veteran lefty went 7-5 with a 4.50 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, 3.1 BB/9 and 9.5 K/9 in 96 IP.
- Limited to just 6 starts from 2020-22 due to injuries and was shut down with a knee injury in early September last season
- Struggled after the All-Star break, notching a 6.98 ERA
- Career vs. Giants: 1-0, 3.38 ERA (10 2/3 IP, 4 ER), 13 H, 4 BB, 13 K in 2 starts
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Giants at Dodgers odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 11:13 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline: Giants +185 (bet $100 to win $185) | Dodgers -225 (bet $225 to win $100)
- Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Giants +1.5 (-110) | Dodgers -1.5 (-110)
- Over/Under (O/U): 9 (O: +100 | U: -120)
Giants at Dodgers picks and predictions
Prediction
Dodgers 6, Giants 4
Moneyline
PASS: The run line in this one offers up drier (less juice) tags.
Run line/Against the spread
San Francisco’s 2 losses have been by multiple runs; 3 of the Dodgers’ 4 wins have been by multi-run margins.
Los Angeles has taken 4 of the last 5 meetings against their Northern California rivals. Three of those wins were by 3 runs or more. Over 2022-23, the Dodgers played .679 (110-52) baseball in Chavez Ravine, and regardless of the many home parks he has toiled in, Paxton has usually been a much better pitcher in home environs.
Winn faced the Dodgers once last season (Sept. 29) and was rocked, allowing 6 runs (3 home runs) in 5 1/3 IP.
FanDuel Sportsbook has a better value on the Dodgers RL play. Back the DODGERS -1.5 (-102).
Over/Under
The San Francisco offense figures to be solid in 2024, and the Dodgers are loaded up and down the lineup.
Both starters have question marks. With the season getting underway in earnest Thursday, both bullpens are 4 days more tangled than they were in the freshness of Opening Day air.
The Los Angeles weather report is calling for a double-digit wind blowing out, and that could mean an extra run or more on the odd potential wall-scraper or would-be long fly landing for extra bases.
FanDuel’s price here makes for extra leverage. TAKE THE OVER 8.5 (-110).
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